99 

S54 


NRLF 


PORTRAITS     Of 

AMERICAN  INDIANS 
W.LANGDONKIHN 


MRS.  WADES-IN- WATER 

Akim-so-yi 
Blackfeet  Indian  woman  of  Montana 


EXHIBITION 

/ 

PORTRAITS  OF  AMERICAN  INDIANS 


BY 


W.       LANGDON       KIHN 


Comprising  the 
Blackfeet  Indians  of  Montana 

and  the 
Pueblo  Indians  of  New  Mexico 


W.  LANGDON  KIHN 

Chase-  Enemy-in-the-  Water 

Zoi-och-ka-tsai-ya 


K53 


PHOTO  BY  SHELDON  PARSONS 


Portraits  of  American  Indians  have  been  shown 
by  Mr.  Kihn  at  the  following  galleries 


Museum  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe 
Blackfeet  Indians,  February,  1920 


Hanfstaengel  Galleries,  New  York  City 
Blackfeet  Indians,  March,  1920 


Hill-Tollerton  Galleries,  San  Francisco 
Blackfeet  Indians,  March-April,  1921 


University  of  California,  Berkeley 
Blackfeet  Indians,  April-May,  1921 


Museum  of  New  Mexico,  Santa  Fe 
Blackfeet  and  Pueblo  Indians,  May,  1921 


General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs 

Newhouse  Hotel,  Salt  Lake  City 
Blackfeet  and  Pueblo  Indians,  June,  1921 


Anderson  Galleries,  New  York  City 

under  the  auspices  of  the 

Museum  of  New  Mexico 

Blackfeet  and  Pueblo  Indians, 

March-April,  1922 


FOREWORD 

The  pictures  shown  in  this  exhibition  are  the  work  of  a  young 
man  still  in  his  early  twenties,  whose  career  has  been  a  short 
one  but  who  has  already  achieved  extraordinary  style  in  his 
Indian  portraits.  He  was  born  of  American  parents  in  Brook- 
lyn, 1898.  From  Boys'  High  School  he  went  to  the  Art  Students 
League  in  New  York  City  and  later  studied  with  F.  Winold 
Reiss.  The  result  of  his  studies  found  early  expression  in  the 
pictured  transcripts  of  the  life  of  the  American  aborigines. 
Long  and  close  association  with  these  people,  in  whose  safe- 
keeping is  all  that  is  worth  while  in  American  art,  is  the  only 
way  in  which  to  perpetuate  their  colorful  life  and  traditions. 
This  is  Mr.  Kihn's  belief  and  in  this  belief  he  has  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  time  among  them;  first  in  1920  among  the 
Blackfeet  Indians  of  Montana  and  later,  at  the  suggestion  of 
Charles  F.  Lummis,  the  lure  led  him  in  the  early  part  of  1921 
among  the  Pueblo  Indians  of  New  Mexico  in  and  around  Laguna 
and  Acoma.  He  is  now  continuing  his  studies  among  the  Indians 
of  the  Canadian  northwest.  His  work  is  an  important  contri- 
bution to  the  history  of  the  American  Indian  and  for  that 
reason  is  of  interest  not  only  to  the  art  lover  and  critic  but  to 
the  ethnologist  as  well. 


JOHN  GROUND 
"CHIEF-EAGLE-CALF" 

Nina-peeta-nista 
Blackfeet  Indian  of  Montana 


A  NOTE  ON   THE   BLACKFEET   INDIAN 
SECTION  OF  THE  EXHIBITION 

The  Blackfeet  Indians  have  long  been  famous  in  the  history 
of  the  Northwest.  They  were  successful  warriors  against  other 
tribes,  and,  in  early  days,  against  the  first  trappers  who  pene- 
trated the  Northwest.  It  was  they  who  had  a  skirmish,  in 
which  they  lost  a  man,  with  the  Lewis  and  Clark  party  in  1806, 
though  another  tribe  has  been  credited  with  this  attack.  The 
Blackfeet  have  never  been  definitely  at  war  with  the  United 
States. 

So  long  as  there  were  buffalo,  the  Blackfeet  lived  well  and 
happily;  but  with  the  buffalo's  extermination  came  dire  trouble. 
Then  for  two  or  three  years  they  starved,  and  of  those  living 
in  the  United  States,  one  quarter  of  the  people  died  from  lack 
of  food.  Later,  better  times  came.  Some  cattle  were  given 
them  and,  at  one  time,  they  seemed  on  the  way  to  self-support 
and  independence;  but  incompetent  agents,  handling  their 
cattle  badly,  threw  them  back  into  poverty.  Their  cattle  dis- 
appeared; cold  and  drought  carried  off  more  and  more  of  their 
live  stock;  and  today  the  Blackfeet  are  poor  and  suffering; 
for  on  their  cold  and  bleak  reservation  there  is  no  work — no 
way  by  which  they  may  earn  money  to  buy  food. 

We  call  the  Indian  a  savage,  but  this  is  not  the  name  given 
him  by  those  who  have  lived  long  and  intimately  with  him. 
We  know  that  in  truth  he  is  a  human  being — not  very  different 
from  ourselves.  If  his  skin  is  dark,  if  his  ways  of  life  are  unlike 
those  of  the  city  man  or  woman,  yet  he  is  governed  by  the 
same  emotions  as  we  are,  and  the  needs  of  his  life  are  the  same 
as  ours.  He  has  a  wife  and  children  whom  he  dearly  loves,  and 
anxieties  about  their  welfare  bring  to  him  the  same  cares 
that  troubles  us  about  our  own  dear  ones.  If  food  is  wanting, 
he  is  hungry.  The  same  wind  that  freezes  us,  chills  him. 


Mr.  Kihn's  pictures  are  faithful  portraits  of  these  Black- 
feet  Indians,  many  of  whom  I  knew  well  in  past  times.  In 
his  collection  are  represented  ancient  men  like  White  Grass, 
Curly  Bear,  and  Many  Tail  Feathers,  with  whom  I  lived  in 
the  olden  days,  when  their  cheeks  were  unwrinkled  and  their 
footfalls  light  and  free. 

I  feel  that  the  pictures  of  these  people  will  interest,  not  only 
all  artists  and  those  who  know  something  about  Indians,  but 
also  all  who  possess  a  real  love  for  the  life  out  of  doors — the 
widespread  spaces  of  their  own  prairies  and  mountains. 

GEORGE  BIRD  GRINNELL 


ELIZABETH  RILEY 

Shaotyetsa 
Indian  girl  of  Laguna,  New  Mexico 


A  NOTE  ON  THE  PUEBLO  INDIAN 
SECTION  OF  THE  EXHIBITION 

The  land  and  the  people  of  our  Southwestern  country  invite 
and  stimulate  the  artist.  The  land  is  a  silent  land,  a  land  of 
perpetual  Sunday,  and  its  people,  who  work  the  soil,  share  the 
quality  of  tenderness  that  is  characteristic  of  the  landscape.  I 
welcome  Mr.  Kihn  among  the  all  too  few  recorders  and  inter- 
preters of  these  ancient  tribes,  whose  features  and  traditions 
are  rapidly  being  changed  and  effaced. 

STEWART  CULIN 


BlG-PAINTED-L,ODGE 

Qui-macatas-co-con 
Blackfeet  Indian  Medicine-man,  Montana 


BLACKFEET  INDIANS  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 


JOHN  GROUND 
'  'CHIEF-EAGLE-CALF' ' 

Nina-peeta-nista 

Interpreter.    Student  at  Carlisle  Indian  School.    Son  of  Big-Painted-Lodge,  a  medicine  man,  and 
father  of  Go-In-High-Woman.    (See  numbers  twenty-seven  and  forty.)    Age  forty-nine  years. 

(Also  see  number  sixteen.) 


WADES-IN-WATER 

So-yi 

Chief  officer  of  Indian  Police.     Husband  of  Mrs.  Wades-in-Water.     (See  number  three.) 

Age  fifty  years. 


MRS.  WADES-IN-WATER 

Akim-so-yi 
Wife  of  Wades-in-Water.     (See  number  two.)    Age  forty-five  years. 


HEAVY-BREAST 

E-so-go-e-kn-e 

Interpreter.    Age  forty-five  years.    (Also  see  number  fifteen.) 


YELLOW-HEAD 

Oui-tah-co-to-con 

Officer  of  Indian  Police.    White  Horse  Society  dancer.    Husband  of  Mrs.  Yellow-Head. 
(See  number  six.)    Age  thirty  year*. 


MRS.  YELLOW-HEAD 

Akim-oui-tah-co-to-con 

Wife  of  Yellow-Head.     (See  number  five.)    Age  thirty  years. 


JOHN-TWO-GUNS-WHITE-CALF 

Notacna-ohnamuc-o-nista-puka 

Chief  of  Indian  Police.    Indian  Judge.    Son  of  the  historically  famous  Chief  White-Calf,  statesman 
and  warrior.    Age  forty-five  years.    (Also  see  numbers  twenty-six  and  thirty-one.) 


8 
OLD-LADY-GOOD-SCISSORS 

My-ig-cy-ke 

Age  eighty-five  years. 


MANY-TAIL-FEATHERS 

A-co-sue-wa-ches-me 

Old  time  warrior  against  the  Sioux.    Age  eighty-five  years. 


10 
LUCILLE 

A-sue-ta-mo 

Age  forty  years. 


\ 


11 

SHORTY- WHITE-GRASS 

A-po-to-ye-see 

Reported  to  be  over  one  hundred  years  of  age.     Oldest  living  warrior.     Garment  front  adorned 

with  Indian  enemies'  scalps.    Father-in-law  of  Chief  Curly-Bear. 

(See  numbers  twenty-two  and  thirty-two.) 


12 
TURTLE 

Spo-pie 

Most  famous  Blackfeet  Indian  hunter.    Finest  Crazy  Dog  Society  dancer.    Age  fifty  years. 


13 
FISH-WOLF-ROBE 

Ma-mee-ya-co-yesee-con 

Leader  of  all  Indian  dancers.    Husband  of  Berry-Woman.     (See  numbers  fourteen  and 
thirty-five.)    Age  forty-five  years. 


14 
BERRY-WOMAN 

Mee-na-ku 

Wife  of  Fish-Wolf-Robe.     (See  number  thirteen.)    Age  forty  years.     (Also  see  number  thirty-five.) 


15 
HEAVY-BREAST 

E-so-go-e-kn-e 

Interpreter.    Age  forty-five  years.    (Also  see  number  four. ) 


MRS.  LONG 

E-no-cm 
Assiniboine  Sioux  Indian  woman  of  Montana 


16 

JOHN  GROUND 
"  CHIEF-EAGLE-CALF  " 

Nina-peeta-nista 

Interpreter.    Student  at  Carlisle  Indian  School.    Son  of  Big-Painted-Lodge,  a  medicine  man,  and 
father  of  Go-In-High-Woman.    (See  numbers  twenty-seven  and  forty.)    Age  forty-nine  years. 

(Also  see  number  one.) 


ALA 


17 
BLACKFEET  INDIAN 

Name  not  known 

18 
BOSS-RIBS 

A-yu-su-sah-mi-wa 
Old  time  Indian  warrior.    Age  eighty  years. 


19 
JOHN-NIGHT-GUNS 

Su-me-na-ma-can 
Grass  Society  dancer.    Died  recently.    Age  thirty  years. 


20 
MRS.  LONG 

E-no-cm 

Assiniboine  Sioux  woman.    Age  thirty-five  years. 


21 
BLACKFEET  INDIAN 

Name  not  known 

22 
CHIEF  CURLY-BEAR 

Nina-caw-yeu-sue-ches 

Only  living  Indian  Chief  of  the  Blackfeet  Tribe.    The  last  of  a  triumvirate  of  Chiefs  that  ruled  the 

Tribe.    Son-in-law  of  Shorty-White-Grass.    (See  number  eleven.)    Age  eighty-five  years. 

(Also  see  number  thirty-two.) 


23 
PETER  OSCAR 

(Indian  name  not  known) 
Carpenter  by  trade.    Age  fifty  years. 


Laguna  Indian  woman 
New  Mexico 


24 
BAD-MARRIAGE 

(Indian  name  not  known) 
Rough-rider.     Age  eighteen  years. 


25 
EAGLE-TAIL-FEATHERS 

(Indian  name  not  known) 

Indian  butcher.    Age  sixty  years. 


26 
JOHN-TWO-GUNS-WHITE-CALF 

Notacna-ohnamuc-o-nista-puka 

Chief  of  Indian  Police.    Indian  Judge.    Son  of  the  historically  famous  Chief  White-Calf,  statesman 
and  warrior.    Age  forty-five  years.    (Also  see  numbers  seven  and  thirty-one.) 


27 
GO-IN-HIGH-WOMAN 

Ca-e-ch-a-pme 

Daughter  of  Chief -Eagle-Calf .    (See  number  one.)    Age  twenty  yean 


28 
SINGS-OUT 

(Indian  name  not  known) 
Age  twenty  year*. 


29 
COMES-BACK 

Pa-yo-ta-po-ma-ca 
Wife  of  Bull-Plume.    Age  forty-fire  years. 


30 
MRS.  YELLOW-WOLF 

Oui-tah-co-yesee 
Age  twenty-five  year*. 


31 
JOHN-TWO-GUNS-WHITE-CALF 

Notacna-ohnamuc-o-nista-puka 

Chief  of  Indian  Police.    Indian  Judge.    Son  of  the  historically  famous  Chief  White-Calf,  statesman 
and  warrior.    Age  forty-five  years.     (Also  see  numbers  seven  and  twenty-six.) 


32 
CHIEF  CURLY-BEAR 

Nina-caw-yeu-sue-ches 

Only  living  Indian  Chief  of  the  Blackfeet  Tribe.    The  last  of  a  triumvirate  of  Chiefs  that  ruled  th« 

tribe.    Son-in-law  of  Shorty-White-Grass.     (See  number  eleven.)    Age  eighty-five  years. 

(Also  see  number  twenty-two.) 


33 
BEAR-HEAD 

Caw-yeu-to-con 
Hunter.    Leader  of  war  parties.    Age  sixty  years. 


34 
WHITE-QUIVER 

Ches-ches-no-pa 

Famous  Indian  warrior.    Leader  of  war  parties.    Age  sixty  years. 


35 
BERRY-WOMAN  AND  HER  CHILD 

Mee-na-ku 

Wife  of  Fish-Wolf-Robe.     (See  number  thirteen.)     Age  forty  years.     (Also  see  number  fourteen.) 


36 
WHITE-DOG 

A-pue-me-ta 
Crazy  Dog  Society  dancer.     Indian  warrior.     Age  fifty-five  years. 


37 
WOLF-ROBE 

Co-ye-see-con 
Peigan  or  Canadian  Blackfeet  Indian.     Age  sixty  years. 

^AttiitHtni..^ -_.  Z^-^^—Z 

IN — in/       fe^ 


38 
TURTLE 

Spo-pie 

Most  famous  Blackfeet  Indian  hunter.     Finest  Crazy  Dog  Society  dancer.     Age  fifty  years. 


JOSE 

Saiow 
Laguna  Indian  Medicine-man,  New  Mexico 


39 
ARROW-TOP 

Oui-maco-to-sckee 

Indian  wrestler  and  rider.    Age  thirty  years. 


40 
BIG-PAINTED-LODGE 

Oui-macats-co-con 

Indian  m«dicine  man.     Father  of  Chief-Eagle-Calf.      (See  number  on«.)     Died  recently.     Age 

eighty  years. 


PUEBLO  INDIANS  OF  THE  SOUTHWEST 


41 
JOSE 

Saiow 

Laguna  medicine  man.    Age  eighty  years. 

42 
ELIZABETH  RILEY 

Shaotyetsa 

Laguna  Indian  girl.    Age  nine  years. 

43 
MRS.  CANFIELD 

Waykaye 
Woman  of  Laguna. 

44 
LUCY  CAISARO 

Kohnye 
Laguna  Indian  girl.    Age  eighteen  years. 

45 
LAGUNA  INDIAN  WOMAN 

Name  not  known 

46 
ANGUS  KE-WIT-SISCHE 

Kewasishe,  of  the  Tree  Clan 
Pueblo  farmer.    Age  sixty  years. 


47 
MRS.  MARMON 

Sa-yh 

Woman  of  Laguna. 

48 

AITCHEE  GUNN 
Aitcheyai 

Woman  of  Laguna. 

49 
CORA  RILEY 

Koriyaitsa 

Young  woman  of  Laguna.    Ag«  eighteen  years. 

50 
MRS.  WM.  PAISANO 

Ka-u-tse 

Wife  of  Laguna  Indian  Judge.    Age  forty  years. 


Little-Singing-Woman 
Pa-ch  ;s-co-co-ma-kee 


Singing-Long-Time 

Me-sa-min-ka-kee 


Pretty 
An-i-top-si 


Chief-Coward 
Nina-go-pm 


Wolf- Runner 


Little-Fox-Woman 


Charlie-After-Buffalo 


Clear-Up 


TURTLE 

Spo-pie 

Blackfeet  Indian  Hunter,  Montana 


ABSENT  BLACKFEET  INDIAN  FRIENDS 


Pumpkin 

Indian  name  not  known 


Bull-Plume 

Sta-me-ches-sa-pu-pa 


Lazy-Boy 

Pi-ki-p-ck-mi-pe 


Big-Mike-Left-Hand 

Me-spkykg-si 


Short-Face 


Medicine-Otter- Woman 


North-Peigan- Woman 
A-pa-to-se-pe-con-a-kee 


WADES-IN-WATER 

Sc-yi 
Blackfeet  Indian  of  Montana 


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